Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 22
Nārada and Aṅgirā Instruct Citraketu: Impermanence, Ātma-Tattva, and Mantra-Upadeśa
अधुना पुत्रिणां तापो भवतैवानुभूयते । एवं दारा गृहा रायो विविधैश्वर्यसम्पद: ॥ २१ ॥ शब्दादयश्च विषयाश्चला राज्यविभूतय: । मही राज्यं बलं कोषो भृत्यामात्यसुहृज्जना: ॥ २२ ॥ सर्वेऽपि शूरसेनेमे शोकमोहभयार्तिदा: । गन्धर्वनगरप्रख्या: स्वप्नमायामनोरथा: ॥ २३ ॥
adhunā putriṇāṁ tāpo bhavataivānubhūyate evaṁ dārā gṛhā rāyo vividhaiśvarya-sampadaḥ
O König, nun erfährst du tatsächlich das Leid dessen, der Kinder hat. Ehefrau, Haus, königlicher Reichtum, Sinnesobjekte und allerlei Machtfülle sind vergänglich; Reich, Heereskraft, Schatzkammer, Diener, Minister, Freunde und Verwandte sind Ursachen von Furcht, Verblendung, Klage und Qual. Sie gleichen einer gandharva-nagara, einem nicht existierenden Palast, den man im Wald zu sehen meint: nicht besser als Traum, māyā und Gedankengebilde.
This verse describes the entanglement of material existence. In material existence, the living entity possesses many things — the material body, children, wife and so on ( dehāpatya-kalatrādiṣu ). One may think that these will give him protection, but that is impossible. In spite of all these possessions, the spirit soul has to give up his present situation and accept another. The next situation may be unfavorable, but even if it is favorable, one must give it up and again accept another body. In this way, one’s tribulation in material existence continues. A sane man should be perfectly aware that these things will never be able to give him happiness. One must be situated in his spiritual identity and eternally serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead as a devotee. Aṅgirā Ṛṣi and Nārada Muni gave this instruction to Mahārāja Citraketu.
FAQs
In this verse, Nārada explains that attachment to children—and similarly to spouse, home, and wealth—can become a direct cause of intense distress when loss and change inevitably arrive.
Citraketu was overwhelmed by grief after the death of his son. Nārada instructs him to see how worldly relationships and opulences, though cherished, often bind the mind and lead to suffering.
Love and serve family responsibly, but remember their temporary nature; anchor your identity in devotion to the Lord so that inevitable change does not destroy inner stability.